Contrary to what their name might suggest, LA-based trio Junior Varsity is far from a feeble group considering their singular, genre-bending sound, which has led them to complete their trilogy of EPs with My Star. Originally a duo composed of Greg Aram and Zach Michel before Brooke Danaher joined within the last year, Junior Varsity showed promise with their self-titled EP.
Firmly in the realm of contemporaries such as George Clanton and Jean Dawson, the latter of whom they recently opened up for on tour, their first few singles captured a cinematic quality so grand that makes their upcoming debut album all the more worthy of hot anticipation. However, with My Star, the third part of their EP series that began in 2021, they’re looking elsewhere for their most formative project, serving as a missing musical link across generations.
The lead single, “Cross The Street,” takes after the post-punk revival of bands like Bloc Party and takes it to another level while also injecting R&B to the point where it distinguishes Junior Varsity from any other act out right now. Much like Danaher and Aram’s vocals, the jumpy beat juxtaposes moments of bridled intensity bubbling under the surface. While it would have been easy to allow the song to explode, the discipline they exhibit is a testament to how developed they are so early on.
At the same time, “Little Luck” is a pop-ready track showcasing the group’s ability to craft an earworm of a song. Their rock tendencies are still prevalent, but the simplicity of the guitar and easy-to-learn melody contribute to “Little Luck” being a gift to radio stations that is the right amount of experimental and accessible. In a similar fashion, “New York” has Danaher and Aram singing in a combination of the intimate and the excited, which is marked by backing vocals that distinguish the song from the rest of the EP.
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As singer-songwriters and producers, everything from Junior Varsity is homegrown, from the production of all of their tracks to the set design for their live performances. To say they’ve proven themselves as musicians would be an understatement, considering they did so out of the gate. If anything, all the pieces are in the right place for Junior Varsity, and the ball is in the rest of the world’s court.
Words: David Sosa
My Star by Junior Varsity is out now on streaming services. For more on new music and potential shows, follow them on Instagram.
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